Smith for Mövenpick Laguna Tower Craig Smith has joined the upcoming Mövenpick Hotel & Residence Laguna Tower Dubai as general manager. He was previously assistant vice president, client operations for Dubai-based IFA Hotels & Resorts. Smith began his hospitality career in Queensland, Australia before joining ITT Sheraton in 1989.
Coral Hotels & Resorts gets new GM Abdul Karim Al Atiq has been appointed general manager of Coral International Hotel, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Al Atiq has more than 16 years’ experience in the hospitality industry having worked for several prestigious hotels throughout Saudi Arabia including Sheraton Riyadh Hotel & Towers and Saudi Hotels & Resorts.
Al Gannas joins One & OnlyAbdulla Al Gannas has been appointed director of sales GCC for the One & Only Reethi Rah Maldives.He takes up the position following a varied career which saw him spend 24 years with Gulf Air before moving to Le Royal Meridien Bahrain. From there he joined Four Seasons Hotel, Cairo, transferring to the group’s regional office.
Olle joins Address Burj Dubai The Address Hotels & Resorts has appointed Simeon Olle as general manager of The Address Downtown Burj Dubai. Olle’s career spans more than two decades with the Hyatt Group where he held an array of positions including most recently as general manager, opening Park Hyatt Hotels in Korea and Beijing.
Promotion for Al Sharani Riyadh Marriott has announced the promotion of Turki Al Sharani as director of sales and marketing. He has been working in sales for the past seven years with several hotels including InterContinental Riyadh and Faisaliah. Al Sharani joined Riyadh Marriott as a sales manager and has a great knowledge of the local market.
New team members for Arabian Park The Arabian Park Hotel has appointed two new sales managers as part of its extended team. Shihan Suhood (pictured) previously worked with Dubai’s Jebel Ali Hotels and Resorts and Habtoor Grand Resort and Spa. Yuliya Anipchanka also joins the hotel as a sales manager, and has worked in the region since 2007.
Shangri-La Dubai promotes Ghaleb Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has promoted Khaled Ghaleb to hotel manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai. Ghaleb joined the group in 2007 as resident manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi. He has vast experience having worked previously at the Le Royal Meridian Beach Resort and Spa and Grosvenor House, Dubai.
New faces at Rotana Chantal Bou Daher Najm (pictured) has been appointed director of sales and marketing for the cluster sales office of Gefinor Rotana and Raouché Arjaan by Rotana. Lara Daniel is area director of marketing and communications and Jeanine Aoun is the new assistant area director of marketing and communications both in Lebanon.
Erken joins Raffles Dubai Raffles Dubai has announced the appointment of Corinna Erken as director of events. Erken has previously worked at The Atlantis Hotel as associate director of service, convention sales and events, as part of the opening team, as well as with the opening team of Madinat Jumeirah and more recently with the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
Media One appoints Noat Media One Hotel has appointed Sebastien Noat as operations manager. Noat will be responsible for the development and implementation of the hotel’s food and beverage concepts as well as overseeing all aspects of operation. He was previously based in Beijing and at the Shangri-La, Dubai.
New face at the Mövenpick DohaThe Mövenpick Hotel Doha has appointed Una Seth as communications manager for the hotel. With over 20 years in the customer service industry, be it with the airlines, having flown with Cathay Pacific Airlines for 11 years, hospitality or retail, Seth brings with her enough experience to take her career to the next level.
New role for Casonato Sonia Casonato takes charge as corporate communications manager for the four Holiday Inn Express properties in Dubai coming from her previous role as assistant public relations and marketing manager for the Renaissance Dubai Hotel. Prior to moving to the UAE, she worked with the Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels in London.
Hamdani joins Ramada Ajman Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman has announced the appointment of Iftikhar Hamdani as the new director of sales and marketing. Hamdani started his career with Pearl Continental Hotels in Pakistan. After moving to the UAE at the end of 1999 he spent nearly a decade developing his sales skills with Coral Hotels UAE.
Bassila for Banyan Tree Zee Bassila has been appointed director of sales at the Banyan Tree Al Areen, Bahrain.Bassila comes from the InterContinental Kiev where he was in charge of pre-opening sales and marketing.He was previously director of sales and marketing at the Crowne Plaza Bahrain from 2005 until 2008.
